A Central Otago construction firm will become the first in the South Island to make all its worksites smoke-free by October this year.
Breen Construction announced the policy this week which would apply to all staff, contractors and visitors.
Construction health and safety manager Chris Lambeth said the plan would be launched in October to coincide with Stoptober, a campaign that promotes giving up smoking for 31 days.
Wanaka fire station, which was due to be completed in June next year, would become the first smoke-free work site.
WellSouth Primary Health Network promotion co-ordinator Sarah Berger said they worked with the company on the new initiative and it was ''leading the way amongst construction firms, by taking a pro-active approach to the health and wellbeing of their employees''.
The policy came about after WellSouth carried out health checks of company employees last year.
After finding that only a few staff members smoked, the company decided to go ahead and create the policy, which would also provide support to those who wanted to quit.
Mr Lambeth said the benefits would not only affect its staff, but all workers on site.
It would ''hopefully foster further thinking and discussion around the health issues that all workers face'' in the industry.
WellSouth is a primary health care service organisation in the South which provides funding and support services to first-line healthcare providers in Otago and Southland.
